Single Driver Horn Loudspeakers

Does anyone have any views on these? I have done a little reading on them, but opinions seem to vary enormously. Good mid-range reproduction but problems with extreme treble and bass response seems to be the general view. Also coloration seems to be an issue.

I have the opportunity of acquiring a pair of these from a friend who is upgrading. They sound OK to me on small scale, acoustic recordings. Very lifelike and excellent spatial placement. First class imaging. But am not sure about large scale orchestral pieces. The drivers are made by Fostex.

Any views would be greatfully received before I make a decision either way.

It's too long ago since I heard any to recall them but from reviews I have read your comments about frequency extremes would seem to be generally acknowledged; probably one of those love them or hate them situations. They are usually very sensitive so are sometimes used by those with very low power valve amps although with a 300B SE amp I manage fine with high sensitivity conventional 'speakers.

I would borrow them, put them in your listening room and try them out. At the end of the day, you need to decide whether you like them. It's no use the rest of us weighing in when it's your listening pleasure. Presumably if it's from a friend you have the opportunity to try them properly at home rather than the limited auditioning that can be done even in the best hi fi shop.

In theory there are several technical reasons why single driver 'speakers are in fact a good idea. I already mentioned high sensitivity but another is the elimination of the crossover network passing your precious signal through more cicuitry consisting of inductors, capacitors and possibly resistors as well. Horn loading should give good bass response.

The possibility of a blip in the frequency response curve where the crossover circuit splits the signal between bass & treble drive units is eliminated. Also it intrigues me that people will purchase expensive heavy gauge cables to link their amp to their 'speakers. Then what happens? As soon as the signal arrives at the 'speaker it is passed through a long coil of relatively thin copper wire wound on a bobbin in the crossover before it arrives at the drive unit!

Some would also claim a single source is better than multi sources in 'speakers with two or more drive units hence Tannoy's famous Dual Concentric with the tweeter at the centre of the main drive unit. KEF have adopted a similar technique with their Uni-Q drivers. I have a pair of speakers with these KEF drivers in one system but can't distinguish any difference in this respect with boxes containing two drivers.

Just to let you know - for anyone who may be interested - that I decided against buying the Horn speakers. They sounded good on single instruments and voices, but were out of their depth with larger and more complex orchestral pieces.

Just to let you know - for anyone who may be interested - that I decided against buying the Horn speakers. They sounded good on single instruments and voices, but were out of their depth with larger and more complex orchestral pieces.

May be good for some music but not to my taste, I'm afraid.

Thanks. You report is what I was also very interested in. What do you think about Klipsche La Scala, anyone ?